Roane deputy saves suicidal man

A Roane County Sheriff's Department deputy pulled a man from the lake Sunday morning after he reportedly drove his vehicle into the water in a suicide attempt.

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By Beverly Majors/Staff

Oakridger - Oak Ridge, TN

By Beverly Majors/Staff

Posted Nov. 25, 2012 at 6:39 PM
Updated Nov 25, 2012 at 6:40 PM

By Beverly Majors/Staff

Posted Nov. 25, 2012 at 6:39 PM
Updated Nov 25, 2012 at 6:40 PM

OAK RIDGE

A Roane County Sheriff's Department deputy pulled a man from the lake Sunday morning after he reportedly drove his vehicle into the water in a suicide attempt.

According to a Sheriff's Department news release, Deputy Brandon Smith swam into the lake near the end of Ferguson Lane and saw Justin Earl of Kingston trying to get out of his submerging vehicle. Smith swam back to shore, retrieved an inner tube and two life jackets from a nearby shed and swam back out to Earl.

Smith got Earl inside the inner tube and the other officers pulled them by rope to shore, the release said.

The release said Earl's sister called 911 about 4:30 a.m. and told a dispatcher her brother had possibly attempted suicide in the area. She said she was on the phone with her brother and he told her he was near the ferry bridge and had driven off into the lake. She said he told her his car was filling up with water. She said she then lost contact with him.

The release said the officers searched all lake access points in the Kingston area, in particular near bridges. Smith checked the old lake access at the end of Ferguson Lane and saw fresh tire tracks in the grass. Then he saw the car about 60 feet out in the water, almost submerged, the release said.

Ferguson Lane is on the Midtown side of the bridge, on opposite side of Highway 70 from the Kingston Steam Plant.

Earl was taken by LifeStar air ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville. Deputy Smith was checked by Roane County Emergency Medical Service at the scene.

UT hospital spokeswoman Susan Wyatt said Earl had been discharged.

"It was quick thinking and quick action," Sheriff Jack Stockton said about Smith's actions. "It was going above and beyond the call of duty. Stockton said Smith is a "very proactive officer and compassionate person."